Lamellar biogels: Fluid-membrane-based hydrogels containing polymer lipids
- Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States); and others
A class of lamellar biological hydrogels comprised of fluid membranes of lipids and surfactants with small amounts of low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)-derived polymer pipids (PEG-lipids) were studied by x-ray diffraction, polarized light microscopy, and rheometry. In contrast to isotropic hydrogels of polymer networks, these membrane-based birefringent liquid crystalline biogels, labeled L{sub {alpha},g,} form the gel phase when water is added to the liquid-like lamellar L{sub {alpha}} phase, which reenters a liquid-like mixed phase upon further dilution. Furthermore, gels with larger water content require less PEG-lipid to remain stable. Although concentrated ({approx}50 weight percent) mixtures of free PEG (molecular weight, 5000) and water do not gel, gelatin does occur in mixtures containing as little as 0.5 weight percent PEG lipid. A defining signature of the L{sub {alpha}, g} regime as it sets in from the fluid lamellar L{sub {alpha}} phase is the proliferation of layer-dislocation-type defects, which are stabilized by the segregation of PEG-lipids to the defect regions of high membrane curvature that connect the membranes. 32 refs., 5 figs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 381781
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 271, Issue 5251; Other Information: PBD: 16 Feb 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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